NYC-CC21: Thomas-Henry leads race to succeed Moya in Queens' District 21 Democratic primary
Shanel Thomas-Henry held a narrow lead Tuesday night in the four-way Democratic primary for City Council District 21, according to preliminary results from the New York City Board of Elections.
With 95% of scanners reporting, Thomas-Henry had secured 30.9% of the vote, followed by Erycka Montoya with 25.3%, Yanna Henriquez with 22.98%, and David Aiken with 20.06%. The outcome of the race will ultimately depend on the city’s ranked-choice voting system, which could shift the lead once lower-placed candidates are eliminated and their ballots reallocated.
The seat is open for the first time in years, following the term-limited departure of Council Member Francisco Moya. Moya, a former state Assembly member and the first Ecuadorian-American elected to the New York Legislature, has represented the district since 2018. District 21 includes the neighborhoods of Corona, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, and LeFrak City—some of the most densely populated and diverse communities in Queens. The area is majority Latino and heavily Democratic, with over 70 % of registered voters affiliated with the party.
Thomas-Henry, a longtime community consultant and organizer, entered the race with strong ties to organized labor. She was endorsed by District Council 37, the city’s largest municipal union, and emphasized workforce development and social services in her platform. Her campaign focused on bringing greater investment in neighborhood infrastructure and public safety, while advocating for immigrant communities.
https://qns.com/2025/06/replace-moya-district-21-heads-to-ranked-choice/